I'll have to update this a little more regularly. I've got all the dash modified to fit the tablets, grinded down. And onto the next part.

I'll take a few more photos.

However, I've got a question I was hoping somebody could help me.

I'm designing a platform that'll rise up, that I can attach my nexus 4 to. I've looked through several options, and linear actuators won't lift it high enough, I don't want an air lift (don't want to have to deal with compressed air). So I thought I could build an electromagnet to lift up the platform. Wire it both ways, then trigger some relays to lift it back and forth. Should work theoretically.

Then I was thinking about the platform itself, I just want a piece of platic/metal something that'll rise straight out of the dash, but otherwise be invisible.

And then I was thinking about the actual platform. I was going to put a nfc tag in there (make it do certain things when connected), and have a few rare earth magnets hold the phone in place. But the idea I was hoping for some help with.

Qi charging. Has anybody pulled apart one of those chargers before? Is the charging coil inside something I can take out, and epoxy into a rising panel? So when the phone is placed on the panel, it'll auto sync up the the tablet/data/phone bluetooth (with NFC tag), and auto charge at the same time. Wire free.

It's been a little while since a proper update, but I've still been plugging away, lots of grinding, electromagnets, qi chargers, raising platforms, android integrated dashes. The usual.

I've gotten both enclosures welded in and grinded down. It still looks like crap, needs filler and paint, but once that's done, it should be pretty cool.

I've still got the ute out in the weather, so rainy days like today aren't as much fun, but here's where I'm at with the grinding. I try not to do too much at a time, don't want the neighbours complaining. But it's 90% done, ready for more grinding & paint.

Now the next part of the dash is a little more tricky. I've always wanted a fully automated hands free bluetooth set within the ute. I know I can get the suction holders that stick onto the glass, but then you've got to mess around with cables, and it looks pretty horrible.

I wanted a solution that'd be completely invisible, and I swipe a hand and it pops up, put the phone on it, and done. I had so many options going through my head, so many different ways, and I couldn't find one I was happy with. So I needed a platform that'd raise, and be flush when not in use.

So basically, the metal will be flush with the top of the dash, and the platform will rise up and down.

The next problem I had was how to make it rise up and down. I had the brilliant idea of turning the metal part into an electromagnet. So I bought some magnet wire.

And coiled it around the whole block.

Theoretically, I wanted it to pull up a metal part below, raising up the platform. It didn't work, it magnetized, but not strong enough. So I figured it was because it wasn't a solid block of metal. So I got some bolts, welded the nuts either side, and coiled the magnet wire around the bolts. Then attached them.

It was more powerful, but not enough to raise the whole platform. So I went back to the drawing board.

Then I figured I could use a stepper motor to spin and raise the platform, however it wouldn't hold it in place once up, and was slow/painful. So I scrapped that idea and started playing around with a servo motor. It's got a lot more torque, faster, but can only spin 180 degrees. But it was best option. So I started building.

And with the servo + spinning bit (a wire holder, with foam & duct buffing it out, light and easy)attached.

And when it pops out of the dash, it should just look like this:

I'm using swede for the rope part, there will be two on either, one will be pulling in either direction, and it works like a charm. So next onto the part.

I don't like cables everywhere, they bug me, so I'm trying to avoid that. My nexus 4 phone has a nifty qi charger feature. It's a magnetic induction, so completely wireless, one coil charges the other. So I got one, and pulled it apart.

I don't want any clips, or things to hold on the phone, it'd loose the smooth flush effect. So I have some rare earth magnets. Two will be inside the platform, two smaller inside the phone (I'll pull the phone apart and hot glue them in). So I just attach the phone, and it'll stick on there.

So then I started on the platform itself. It'll be a epoxy resin cast, and the best thing to do it on is glass, it'll give a smooth surface, and as long as it's been waxed, it'll come off easily when dried. So I drew the rough dimensions, where the charger will need to sit, ect.

I put an initial coat of resin over the base, let it dry. Then put some of my conductive paint in there. It'll allow me to use the same swipe & work thing I'm using on the fuel cap.

Then I started placing everything in place:

And poured some resin.

And now I'm waiting for it to dry. Fingers crossed it works out properly

I just need to cut a small hole in the vent for the platform to rise out of. Nice and hidden!

One other question, how do people grind down welds in hard to reach places? I'm getting to all the annoying corners in the tray, where the angle grinder can't reach. Is there a trick to it? Otherwise I'll have to either filler or leave the welds there (they aren't the prettiest.

I wish i was in my workshop so i could take some pics of some tools that will help you out.but really a die grinder and a good quality carbide burr.i use a flame type for most of the hard to reach places and corners

go to bunnings and grab yourself a dremal, there is a kit for $130 and it comes with a small hand held extention for those hard to reach spots. recently grabbed one and its been fantastic. dash has come up good so far, looking forward to some more pics